25 January 2024 , 10:23
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Martin Lewis has warned renters across the country to check if they could be owed thousands from their landlords.
The MoneySavingExpert.com founder told tenants - particularly those who rent in London - to check if their rented home was properly licenced on the recent episode of the Martin Lewis Money Show earlier this week. If not, you could be due a refund of 12 months rent.
Martin said: “If you rent in London, check your home is properly licenced. Go on to London.gov.uk’s property licence checker. If your landlord hasn’t followed the rules you might be entitled to thousands of pounds back rent, so it is worth checking that one.”
According to UK housing law, if landlords are renting a single property to multiple residents they need to licence the property with the local council. The council can then check whether the rented property meets the right standards for multiple occupancies. It's also important to note that other types of rental property may also have to be licensed under local council rules - you should check your local council's website to find out their licensing rules.
If your landlord hasn't licensed your rental property properly then you could be owed a refund through a rent repayment order (RRO) which could amount to a few thousand pounds. You - or your local council - can apply for this through a tribunal, and your council may offer help doing this as they run the licencing scheme.
London flat for rent for £1,400 a month with bed tucked away in kitchen cupboard
If you are to do this there most likely will be fees involved, however, these fees can be claimed back if you are successful. The amount you would get back depends on how much rent you pay. If your rent for the entire property is £900 a month, then you could be entitled to a refund for an entire year of rent which would equate to £10,800 if your tribunal orders your landlord to pay the full amount.
According to the housing charity Shelter, your landlord must have a house in multiple occupations (HMO) licence from the council if these two things apply to the property:
- you share with four or more other people
- there are two or more separate households
These licences usually last around five years, however, in some areas, they can last for less. Licences also can't be transferred, so if your landlord sells up and another landlord takes over, they will have to reapply for a new HMO licence.
If your landlord does not have an HMO licence, then alongside having to repay rent, they cannot evict you from the property with a section 21 notice or "no-fault eviction" notice and they can also be banned from renting out properties. A representative from Shelter charity appeared on the Martin Lewis Money Show on Tuesday and told viewers that if they are unsure of where they stand or what they can do then they can find help and advice on the Shelter website. You can also contact a Shelter advisor over the phone if you are worried about losing your home in the next two months.